Aircraft gun mount and swingable enclosure therefor



y 7, 1940- J. c. SANDERS 2199,97]

AIRCRAFT GUN MOUNT AND SWINGABLE ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Original Filed Oct.17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Juventor y 7, 1940- J. c. SANDERS 2,199,971

AIRCRAFT GUN MOUNT AND SWINGABLE ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Original Filed Oct.17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor John C. Sand rs a @1554;

May 7, 1940. 2,199,971 AIRCRAFT GUN MOUNT AND SWINGABLE ENCLOSURETHEREFOR J. C. SANDERS Original Fi led Oct. 17, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet sPatented ay 7, i940 AIRCRAFT GUN MOUNT AND SWINGABLE ENCLOSURE THEREFOROriginal application October 17, 1934, Serial No.

749,040. Divided and this application December 21, 1936, Serial No.116,919

29 'Claims. ((189-375) My invention relates to gun mounts for aircraft,and in particular to gun mounts for machine guns to be installed inairplanes.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 749,041),filed October 17, 1934, now Patent No. 2,113,143 issued April 5, 1938.

My novel gun emplacement is peculiarly suited to installations in theend of an airplane fuselage. It may thus be employed to advantage in anairplane of the bombardment type, which is capable of very high speed,and which for that reason must have its armament enclosed so that nomoreair resistance than necessary will be created, and so that thegunner may maneuver the gun without the hindrance caused by his beingexposed or the gun being unnecessarily exposed to the relative airmoving at high speedpast the airplane.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a gun mount and anenclosure therefor which may be mounted at the end of an airplanefuselage, and which may be manipulated easily and speedily by the gunnerto train the gun in different directions through an extremely wide fieldof fire.

Especially is it my purpose to provide such a mount which will enableagunner to train the gun quickly from one side of the fuselage to theother by supporting the gun mount on a pivot disposed transversely ofthe airplane fuselage.

It is a further object to provide a power drive for training the guneither to assist and facilitate direct control of the gun by the gunner,or to enable the gunner to control the gun indirectly from a locationremote from the gun mount.

The particular manner in which these and other objects are obtained willbe made clear in the descriptionof the specification, and from aninspection of the drawings.

My invention comprises the novel type of gun mount and its installationin an aircraft structure, as shown in the drawings and describedhereafter, the novel features of which are particularlypointed out inthe claims.

The drawings show several illustrative embodiments of my invention,largely in diagrammatic form to portray the principles and uniquefeatures of my construction.

Figure l is a longitudinal horizontal section, and Figure 2 is avertical longitudinal section of one form of my invention.

Figures 3 and 4 show a slightly different form corresponding to Figures1 and 2, respectively, and incorporating power driving mechanism.

Figures 5 and 6 show a further modification:

Figure 5 corresponds to Figure l and Figure 6 to Figure 2.

Figures 7 and 9 likewise correspond to Figure 2 except that in Figure 9the shell is shown in elevation instead of section, and Figures 8 and 10correspond to Figure 1, these figures, 7 and 8 together and Figures 9and 10 together, illustrating other modifications.

Figure 11 is a plan view, and Figure 12 a vertical longitudinal section,showing still a further form of my invention, involving power operatedmovement of both the gun and its enclosure, which movements arecontrolled by a gunner located at a distance from the gun installation.

My gun is adapted for installation in an opening formed in the end of anaircraft body, although it might be disposed in an aperture formed inthe side thereof. Primarily the gun enclosure is supported from theaircraft structure to swing about an axis disposed transversely of theaircraft structure opening whether that axis be vertically disposed, asin Figures 1 to 6 and 9 to 12, or horizontally as in Figures '7 and 8.while the immediate gun mount is supported from the enclosure to swingabout an axis in a plane normal to that about which the enclosureswings.

In all the figures the airplane fuselage 4B is shown terminating in asubstantially planar.cir

, disposed bearings 50.. In Figures 7 and 8 similar bearings disposedhorizontally are indicated at 54. In Figures 9 and 10 the bearings Bl,which carry the spherical lunar sections making up the shell, correspondto the bearings in Figures 1 to 6. The construction shown in Figures 11and 12 preferably does not employ pivot pins, and the nature of thismechanism will be described hereafter, although if desired, bearingssimilar to those shown in the other figures may be employed.

The shell in each case is provided with a great circle slot disposedcoplanar with the pivot axis of the shell. In Figures 1 to 4 and 9 to 12inclusive this slot is of a width just sufficient for projection of theguntherethrough, and in Figures 1 to 6 and 9 to 12 the slot is disposedvertically. In the forms illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 inclusive tracks5|, designated 5| in Figures 7 and 8, are provided, within which acarriage 52 supporting a gun mount I is movable, the gun mount beingtiltably supported upon the carriage, as will be explained hereafter.

In the directly controlled forms of Figures'l to 10 inclusive the gunnerstands upon a platform 48, supported from the aircraft structure andprojecting into the shell 5. In Figures 1 to 6, 9 and 10 this platformoverlies the vertical pivot of the shell, although illustration of thisplatform has been omitted in Figures 9 and 10 to show clearly thedetails of the pivots supporting the shell sections. In the form ofFigures 7 and 8 the gunners platform projects up over the lower edge of"the shell swingable upon a horizontal axis. Thus the gunner issupported within the shell, so that by movement of the gun he may rockthe shell about its pivot axis, or he may move the gun support carriagein an arc upon the tracks 5|, or both, and in this manner universalmovement of the gun may be accomplished.

In addition it is desirable to have the gun movable with respect to itsimmediate support. Thus in the mount employed in Figures 1 to 4, 9 andthe gun may be pivoted upon an axis 24 extending transversely of theslot for swinging of the gun along the slot without movement of thecarriage, although such swinging of the gun must necessarily afford alesser range of traverse than when the carriage itself is moved inconjunction with the local swinging of the gun. In the form of Figures 5to 8 inclusive the carriage 52, or the equivalent band 53 of Figures 7and 8, carries a gun shield in the form of a sphere 3, surrounding themount of the gun Within this sphere may be received a gun mount enablingboth local traversing and elevational movement of the gun as well asrotational movement of the gun about its longitudinal axis, if thisshould be desired. Such a support is of the same type as that shown inthe sphere arrangement of Figures 1 to 5 inclusive in my Patent No.2,113,143, referred to previously. Thus universal movement of the gun,both locally and in conjunction with the shell 5, may be accomplished,to cover at least a hemispherical field of fire forwardly of theairplane fuselage, or rearwardly, if the mount is at the tail of theairplane.

In the arrangement of Figures '7 and 8 a band 53 is provided to closethe relatively wide slot,

. and a similar band may be employed in the form shown in Figures 5 and6. This band may be moved as a whole alongthe slot 5| instead ofproviding a small carriage, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, for suchmovement. With this con struction the slot will be covered in allpositions of traverse of the sphere 3, for the band is substantiallytwicethe'len'gth of the slot 51 In Figures 9 and 10, as has been stated,the gunners platform 8 has been omitted from the drawings for clearerillustration, but such platform and a gun mount carriage to ride in thetracks 5|, similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2, for example, wouldbe provided. The enclosure 6 in Figures 9 and 10 differs'from the shell5 of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive in that it is formed of a plurality ofsections, each section being in the shape of a spherical lune. Thesesections are movable relatively to each other, but means are provided toprevent their disconnection, so that they will always overlap but maymove from nested control arm 57.

relationship into edge to edge disposition. \These segments '62 arepivoted upon a common vertical axis, as indicated at 6 and the gun mountmoves on tracks 5| along the margin of a great circle slot, extendingsubstantially from end to end of a central section or segment 60.

As shown in Figure 10, the sections at one side of the section 60 arecapable of nesting together adjacent to one side of the opening in theairplane fuselage 40. The segments on the other side of the section 60are at the same time extended in edge. to edge relationship to close thefuselage opening. As the segment 60 is swung to the port side of theairplane, each segment on the port side will in turn contact with afixed stop 63 upon the terminal segment, and this segment in turn has astop 64 which will contact with the end of the fuselage, and thesuccessive segments will nest together. At the starboard side of theairplane at the same time, each successive segment isdrawn from itsnested position by contact with the next outer segment, and it will inturn draw forth the following segment. Thus the contour of the enclosure6 will at all times be complete, yet the segments will not proiectsufliciently within the fuselage to be in the way of the gunner or ofother installations.

In Figures 3, 4; 11 and 12 power mechanism is provided to drive the gunenclosure or shell 5, to overcome the large resistance to movementcaused by air pressure on the projecting muzzle of the gun. In Figures 3and 4 the gun mount carriage is manually movable along the slot 5|, asit is in Figures 1 and 2. However, the shell 5 is controlled for onetype of movement, as traversing movement, by power means such as themotor 56 fixed within the fuselage and engaging an arcuate rack 55secured to the enclosure 5 by means of a motor-driven gear. The motor,which should be of a reversing type, is controlled from a positionadjacent to the gun, for instance by a motor The carriage 52, movable inthe guide 5|, is supported therein by pairs of separable wheels or shoes58, controllable by a second arm 59, so that they form in effect aclutch to hold the gun and its' support in any position along the tracks5| which define the gun'slot. An ammunition container i8 is shown inthis view mounted above the gun.

Figures 11 and 12 show power means controlled from a distant point fordriving the gun for both elevational and traversing movements. Thetraversing of the shell 5 is accomplished bya motor 56 and geararrangement 55 in the same manner as the motor drive of Figures 3 and 4.The gun support 52 whereon the gun may swing for elevationalmovement,has secured to it a second motor 85, anda pinion which mesheswith the rack 86 mounted on the interior of the inner side of the shell,in a plane parallel to the plane of the slot 5|. The trunnion support,which carries the gun, the motor 85, and its pinion, is supported withinand from the spherical enclosure 5 to pivot about a diameter thereof.Accordingly the elevational'movement of the gun along the slot 5| may beaccomplished by energizing the motor 85, and traversing movement of theenclosure 'and gun is effected by energization of the motor 56.

The spherical enclosure 5 may be supported on trunnions, as are theshells shown in the other forms of my device. However, I prefer that therack 55 be guided in fixed arcuate guides I5, with a companion segment55 similarly guided and supported.

The gunner is located remote from the gun mount in the aircraftstructure. He may sit in his chair at and control the motors 56 and 85and the firing of the guns by appropriate devices which are not shown,but which controls would be adjacent to the gunners support M. The gunalso may be sighted by, and its position controlled by power means, inaccordance with, any convenient remote sighting arrangement (the char-.actor of which is immaterial to the present invention), one member ofwhich is. illustrated at. 81 adjacent to the gunners eyes.

By employing power means to efiect general movement of the gun, in oneor in both angular movements, the gunner is relieved of the considerablephysical efiort required to move the gun in opposition to the airpressure upon its projecting muzzle, which at high speeds, with even asmall amount of projection, may exceed one hundred pounds. It isintended to employ power means in whatever form of mount it seemsdesirable, and for one or both directions of angular movement, and ifthe gun is also locally movable, in each adjusted position, as inFigures to 8, the gunner is enabled by suitable power means to bring thegun, with a minimum of effort and with the greatest speed and control,into position to bear on his target, and then by the local manualadjustments he may follow the immediate movements of the target, and maytrain the gun on the target.

Likewise it will be realized that the relative wind, at high speeds, maynot be permitted to sweep through the gunners position, entering throughan open slot, for this would be much the same as though the gunner wereout in the open. This may be avoided in the manner shown in Figures 7and 8, for instance, by closing the slot with a closure 53 to prevententrance of the draft, or by the obviously equivalent way of closing therear of the space which is open to the. front, to prevent exit of thedraft, permitting building up of pressure within the space, but not flowtherethrough. Such an arrangement is suggested in Figures ii and 12,wherein the shell 5 is closed to the rear of the open slot at, and thefuselage is closed by a partition to the rear of the shell. Thisprevents air flowing from the pressure space within or around the shell5 into the general body of the fuselage it. While this closure is aheadof the gunner, it might be to the rear of the gunner, and between thegunner and the remainder of the fuselage, as is also shown in Figure 12,in which case, if the forward closure were omitted, the gunnerwouldmerely be subjected to the built-up pressurein a compartment opento the front by a gun slot or aperture, but closed behind him so as toprevent air flow past him.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a truncated but otherwise streamlined aircraft structureterminating in an opening extending transversely of the direction offlight, pivot means extending generally parallel to the plane of theedge of such opening and mounted to the plane of the edge of suchopening and mounted on the aircraft structure at opposite sides thereof,an enclosure closing such opening, including a plurality of nestingsections, each in the form of a spherical lune, twice the numberrequired to close the opening, disposed in laterally telescopingrelationship and supported by and swingable about said pivot means, oneof said sections, near the center of the nest, being apertured forprojection of a gun therethrough, and mounting means upon said aperturedsection to support a gun projecting through such aperture.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the aperture is formed as a slotextending substantially from end to end of the spherical lune section,and the mounting means is adapted to support the gun for movement alongsuch slot.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the aperture is formed as a slotextending lengthwise of the spherical lune section, and the mountingmeans includes tracks extending along the margins of the slot to guidethe gun for movement therealong.

5. In an aircraft structure having an opening therein, pivot meansextending generally parallel to the plane of the edge of such openingand mounted on the aircraft structure at opposite sides thereof, anenclosure closing such opening comprising a plurality of nestingsections of an aggregate extended extent substantially twice thatrequired to close such opening, disposed in laterally telescopingrelationship and supported by and swingable-about said pivot means, andincluding a central section having a slot extending lengthwise thereoffor projection of a gun therethrough, means at each side of saidaircraft structure opening to receive in stored nested relationship thesections at its side of said central section while. the remainingsections are extended in edge to edge relationship across such openingto close the same, and mounting means to support a gun projectingthrough the central section slot for swinging of the gun with suchsection, and for movement lengthwise of such slot.

6. In an aircraft structure terminating in an opening, the edges of saidopening determining a plane vertically disposed to the longitudinal axisof said structure, a shell closing such opening, pivot means disposedsubstantially parallel to the plane of the edge of the opening andguiding said shell for swinging about a vertical axis with respect tothe aircraft structure, a gun mount received in said shell to support agun projecting therefrom, a gunners platform supported independentlyfrom the aircraft structure and projecting into said shell to overliethe pivot means at the lower side of the shell, and means guiding saidgun mount for traversing and elevational movement independently of andwith respect to said gunners support.

7. In an aircraft structure terminating in an opening, the edges of saidopening determining a plane vertically disposed to the longitudinal axisof said structure, a shell closing such opening, pivot means disposedsubstantially parallel to the plane of the edge of the opening andguiding said shell for swinging about a horizontal axis with respect tothe aircraft structure, a gun mount received in said shell to support agun projecting therefrom, and a gunners platform supported independentlyfrom the aircraft structure and projecting upwardly into said shell overthe lower swinging edge of the shell.

8. In an aircraft structure having an opening therein, a shell closingsuch opening and having a slot therein, means guiding said shell forrotation with respect to the aircraft structure, a gun mount adapted tosupport a gun projecting through the shell slot, a carriage movablealong the slot, means supporting said gun mount from said carriage andguiding it for elevational move ment with respect thereto, and aspherical gun shield received in the shell slot and enclosing said gunmount.

9. The combination of claim 8, and a band received in and closing theshell slot, the spherical gun shield protruding outward from said band,and means guiding said band for movement along the slot as the gun mountsupporting carriage is moved therealong, to close the slot over itsentire length for all positions of the carriage and un shield.

10. In an aircraft structure having a substan tially circular openingtherein disposed trans versely of the direction of flight, a shellclosing such opening and exposing therethrough a shell portion ofsubstantially hemispherical shape, and such exposed shell portion.having a slot therein, means guiding said shell to swing about an axisdisposed diametrically of said opening, and parallel to the plane of theshell slot, a band received therethrough a shell portion ofsubstantially hemispherical shape in continuation of the aircraft body,and such exposed shell portion having a slot therein, means guiding saidshell for rota tion with respect to the aircraft body about an axis inthe plane of said slot, a band closing said slot and apertured forprojection of a gun therethrough, a gun mount within said shell tosupport a gun projecting through said band, and means guiding said bandfor movement lengthwise of the slot conjointly with said gun mount, formovement of a gun supported thereby.

12. In an aircraft structure having an opening therein. the edges ofwhich opening determine a vertical plane normal to the longitudinal axisof said aircraft structure, a shell closing such opening, meanssupporting saidshell for rotation with respect to the aircraftstructure, power means disposed to drive said shell for rotation, a gunopening therein, a spherical shell received in and 1 closing suchopening, and having a great circle slot therein, means guiding saidshell for rotation with respect to the aircraft structure about an axisgenerally parallel to and disposed diametrically of the opening, anexternal circular gear segment mounted on the exterior of the inner sideof said sphere'in a plane normal to the plane of the shell slot, amotor, a gear driven therebyv and meshing with said gear segment todrive the shell for rotation, a gun mount disposed within said sphericalshell and adapted to support a gun projecting through the shell slot,means supporting said gun mount from said shell for swinging about thediameter thereof disposed normal to the. plane of the slot, an internalcircular gear segment mounted on the interior of the inner side of saidshell in a plane parallel tothe plane of the slot, a second motor, agear driven thereby meshing with said internal circular gear segment,and connected to said gun mount to swing it, for traversing movementalong the shell slot of a gun carried thereby.

14. The combination of claim 13, and a gunners support in the aircraftstructure remote from the spherical shell, and control means for themotors adjacent to said gunners support operable by the continuation ofthe streamline contour of the aircraft structure in ,all positions ofrotation, means supporting such shell for rotation with respect to theaircraft structure, power means,

connected to.rotate said shell, means controllable from a point withinthe aircraft structure, distant from the shell, to control said powermeans for accomplishing such rotation, and a gun mount received in saidshell to support a gun projecting therefrom.

16. In an aircraft body of truncated but otherwise streamline form,terminating in an opening defining a generally vertical plane extendingtransversely of the direction of flight, a gunners support within theaircraft body, a shell closing such opening, and disposed incontinuation of the aircraft body, exposing, in such continuation, ashell surface substantially hemispherical in contour, to restore thestreamline form, pivot means upon the aircraft body, within suchopening, and complemental pivot means onthe shell interengagedtherewith, and guiding'the shell to swing about an axis disposeddiametrically of the shells hemispherical contour and substantiallyparallel to the terminus of the aircraft body, and a gun mount supportedupon said shell to support a gun projecting therefrom, the gun mount andthe shell being arranged and organized for movement by a gunnersupported upon the support within the aircraft body.

17. In an aircraft body of truncated but otherwise streamline form,terminating in an opening defining a generally vertical plane extendingtransversely of the direction of flight, a gunners support within theaircraft body, a shell closing such opening, and disposed incontinuationof the aircraft body, exposing, in such continuation, ashell surface substantially hemispherical in contour, to restore thestreamline form, means upon the aircraft body, within such opening, andcomplemental means on the shell interengaged therewith, cooperating forguiding the shell to swing about an axis disposed diametrically of theshells hemispherical contour and substantially parallel to the terminusof the aircraft body, and a gun mount supported for movement conjolntlywith the shell, and adapted to support a gun projecting from the shellfor aiming movement with respect to the shell by a gunner supported uponthe support withinthe aircraft body.

18. The combination of claim 16, including ing, the edges whereof definea generally vertical means guiding the gun mount and a gun thereon forswinging with respect to the shell about an axis disposed generally atright angles to the shells axis of swing.

19. The combination of claim 16, including means guiding the gun mountand a gun thereon for swinging with respect to the shell about an axisdisposed generally at right angles to the shells axis of swing, andpower means to effect swinging movement about at least one of said axes.

20. The combination of claim 16, including means guiding the gun mountand a gun thereon for swinging with respect to the shell about an axisdisposed generally at right angles to the shells axis of swing, and twoindependently controllable power means, each to efiect swinging movementabout a difierent one of said axes.

21. The combination of claim 16, including power means to effectswinging movement about such axis.

22. The combination of claim 16, including means guiding the gun mountand a gun thereon for swinging with respect to the shell about an axisdisposed generally at right angles to the shells axis of swing, powermeans to effect swinging movement about one of said axes, and meansmanually operable to effect swinging movement about the other axis.

23. The combination of claim 16, including means guiding the gun mountand a gun thereon for swinging with respect to the shell about an axisdisposed generally at right angles to the shells axis of swing, powermeans to efiect swinging movement about one of said axes, and meansassociated with the gun mount, and manually operable to afi'ord localswinging action of the gun supported by the gun mount about an axisparallel to one of the first two axes, in any adjusted position of thegun mount about said first two axes.

2d. The combination of claim 16, including means guiding the gun mountand a gun thereon for swinging with respect to the shell about an axisdisposed generally at right angles to the shells axis of swing, andmeans associated with the gun mount, and manually operable to affordcorresponding local swinging action of the gun and gun mount about twoaxes parallel, respectively, to the first two axes, in any adjustedposi- -tion of the gun mount about such first two axes.

supporting the shell from the aircraft structure for swinging movement,relative to such structure, about an axis which is substantially parallel to the plane of the edge, track members supported from the shell,a carriage guided for movement along said track members, and a gun.

mount guided by said carriage for movement with the latter, and adaptedto support a gun projecting through the shells slot for traversing alongsuch slot by movement of said carriage along the track members.

26. In an aircraft structure having an openplane, a shell closing suchopening and having a slot formed in its outer surface, pivot meanssupporting the shell from the aircraft structure for swinging movement,relative to such structure, about a single axis which is substantiallyparallel to'the plane of the edge, track members disposed along eachmargin 01' the slot, acerriage guided for movement along said track, anda gun mount supported by said carriage for movement therewith along theshells slot, and adapted to support a gun projecting through such slot.

27. In an aircraft structure having an opening, the edges whereof definea generally-vertical plane, a shell closing such opening and having aslot formed in its outer surface, pivot means supporting the shell fromthe aircraft structure for swinging movement, relative to suchstructure, about a single axis which is substantially parallel to theplane of the edge, track members disposed along each margin of the slot,a carriage guided for movement along -said track, and a gun mountsupported by said carriage for movement therewith along the shells slot,and adapted to support a gun projecting through such slot, said gunmount being mounted upon said carriage for swinging movement relative tothe carriage, transversely of the slot, in any adjusted positionlengthwise of the slot.

28. In an aircraft body of truncated but otherwise streamline form,terminating in an opening defining a generally vertical plane extendingtransversely of the direction of flight, a. gunners supportwithin theaircraft body, a shell closing such opening, and disposed incontinuation of the streamline surfaces of the aircraft body, exposing,in such continuation, a shell surface substantially hemispherical incontour, to restore the streamline form, pivot means upon the aircraftbody, within such opening, and complemental pivot means on the shellinterengaged therewith, and guiding the shell for swinging movementabout an axis disposed diametrically of the shells hemispherical contourand substantially parallel to the plane of the terminus of the aircraftbody, a gun mount supported upon the shell to support a gun projectingtherefrom, and means interposed between the gun mount and. the shell forlocal movement of the gun mount and gun thereon relative to the shell,in the various positions of adjustment of the shell.

29. In an aircraft body of truncated but otherwise streamline form,terminating in an opening defining a generally vertical plane extendingtransversely of the direction of flight, a. gunners support within theaircraft body, a shell closing such opening, and disposed incontinuation of the streamline surfaces of the aircraft body, exposing,in such continuation, a shell surface substantially hemispherical incontour, to restore the streamline form, pivot means upon the aircraftbody, within such opening, and complemental pivot means on the shellinterengaged therewith, and guiding the shell for swinging movementabout an axis disposed diametrically of the shells hemispherical contourand substantially parallel to the plane of the terminus of the aircraftbody. a gun mount supported upon the shell to support a gun projectingtherefrom, the shell being slotted for the projection of a gun upon thegun mount, and for the shifting of the gun mount and gun along the slot,means guiding the gun mount from the shell for such shifting movement,and means interposed between the gun mount and the shell for localmovement of the gun mount and gun, relative to the shell, in the variouspositions of adjustment of the shell relative to the aircraft body, andof the sun. mount relative to the shell.

JOHN C. SANDER

